Nitaquat law: Govt aid for Keralites forced to return

The government will provide all assistance to Keralites who are forced to leave Saudi Arabia under the nitaquat law, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday.

Talking to the media after a meeting of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister said that help from Central government and prominent Malayalees in the Gulf would be sought for the purpose. If necessary, Minister for Culture and Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs K. C. Joseph and Minister for Urban Affairs and Minority Welfare Manjalamkuzhi Ali would go to Saudi Arabia to oversee the arrangements to help the returnees.

Mr. Chandy noted the grace period granted by the Saudi government to regularise the stay of illegal migrants would be expiring shortly. A number of Keralites had been able to regularise their documents during the grace period. Still, some would have to return

Mr. CM, could you please clarify why tax payers' money should be spent on these people who have any way earned more than they could have done in India? Had they worked as hard here, certainly Kerala would have already become the most prosperous state in India by now.